Philadelphia, Jul 05 (V7N) — France captain Kylian Mbappe criticized Paraguay's physical style of play after Les Bleus secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Played in sweltering 39-degree Celsius heat in Philadelphia, the Round of 16 encounter was marked by frequent fouls, physical challenges and heated confrontations as Paraguay attempted to disrupt France's rhythm.
Despite the hostile conditions and Paraguay's aggressive approach, France remained composed and secured victory through Mbappe's second-half penalty.
Speaking after the match, the French captain said his team had expected a difficult contest.
"We knew what kind of match was waiting for us. I think we handled the situation on the field very well today," Mbappe said.
He added that France had shown they could adapt when faced with a physical battle.
"They thought we would come onto the field wearing a tuxedo and only play elegant football. But when faced with reality, we proved that we also know how to play ugly football when necessary."
Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev faced a demanding afternoon as he worked to control the tense contest. He issued four yellow cards during the match, three of them to French players, as repeated fouls and physical duels disrupted the flow of the game.
The decisive moment came in the second half when France were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Mbappe calmly converted from the spot to seal a narrow victory and send the former world champions into the last eight of the tournament.
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